The Assignment: Collaborate with other class members to write a critical analysis of one of the following works from the text: Chapter 9: Who Owns Your Body?Who Owns Your Body Parts? by Kerry Howley (page 290)The Trouble with Organ Trafficking by Arthur Caplan (page 307)The Gendered Language of Gamete "Donation" by Caroline Rubin (page 313) Chapter 10: Human/Robot InteractionAlone Together: The Robotic Moment by Sherry Turkle (page 322)The Ethical Frontiers of Robotics by Noel Sharkey (page 357) Chapter 12: The Changing American FamilyWhat is a Family? by Pauline Irit Erera (page 416)Cohabitation Instead of Marriage by James Q. Wilson (page 429)Absent Fathers: Why Don't We Ever Talk About the Unmarried Men? by Rebecca M. Blank (page 439) Chapter 13: Social Class and InequalityCulture of Success by Brink Lindsey (page 452)The War Against the Poor Instead of Programs to End Poverty by Herbert J. Gans (page 457)A Great Time to Be Alive? by Matt Yglesias (page 464) You'll be asked to focus your research for semester on the general topic you select for this essay. So, if you decide to perform critical analysis on one of the works from Chapter 12, the rest of your work for the semester will need to address some aspect of The Changing American Family. Once you have chosen the piece you would like to work on, put your name on the associated page. Only 5 people can work on any one essay. If 5 people have already signed up, you must select a different work. You may not change your selection, so be sure of your choice before you commit. This assignment is worth 15% of the total class grade; you must submit all major assignments and associated drafts in order to have an opportunity to pass the course. Each "essay" will be graded according to the Criteria for Evaluation below and Assessment Methods already set forth in the course syllabus. Everyone who works on the essay will receive the same grade. Utilize the Discussion Post function at the top of the page to communicate directly with other people in your group, or when it's appropriate, on the page itself. [example: Deb here. I'm having trouble summarizing this section. Would someone like to weigh in? In addition, each student will assign a participation grade to the other members of the group. I will also assign a participation grade based on the Wiki history. The grade I assign and those assigned by fellow students will be averaged and posted to the process portion of each student's class grade. (Note: In rare certain circumstances, you may elect to vote a collaborator off the island. The vote must be unanimous. If a member of the group is voted off, he or she must write an individual critical analysis on a source document I select.) An example of a successful essay from last semester can be found here. How-to:Remember that critical analysis is argumentative—not informative—in nature. Therefore, your analysis should not simply restate the author's argument. (Some summary of the original text is customary but secondary.) Your analysis should examine the text's assumptions, reasons, evidence, and conclusions. Focus on how well the author accomplishes his or her purpose—not whether or not you agree with what the author has to say. Study the detailed demonstration of the reading-writing process in Part II of Chapter 3, and model your paper on the example found on page 115. Review Ways to Perform Critical Analysis. The final word count will depend on the text you have chosen to analyze, but should be within the 1500-2000 words range (4-5 pages irl).
You can organize the document in any way that makes sense. In addition, you may insert outside images and links as appropriate, but be sure that they are properly cited. NOTE: Please cite your essay as though you found it in an anthology of reprinted works.
Requirements:
In your introduction, identify the topic, the article, the author's main claim, and briefly state your assessment of the argument (this will be your thesis). Use the Thesis Builder to create your thesis and highlight it in your essay. Use supporting paragraphs to present detailed analysis. Remember to cite your sources. Failure to include in-text citations will result in a grade of F for the paper.
Write from the third-person point of view, and use the present tense. Essays using first or second person POV will receive a 5-point deduction in final grade.
Silver argues that… (not “I thought that” or “You will see that” or “Silver argued that”)
Cite all outside sources, include a Work Cited page, and prepare using MLA format. Failure to cite outside sources or include a Work Cited page will result in a grade of F for the paper.
Suggested Resources:
Chapter One, “Active Critical Reading”
Chapter Two, “Responses, Paraphrases, Summaries, and Quotations”
Chapter Three, “Critical Analysis”
Criteria for Evaluation:
Accurately and ethically paraphrases and/or quotes from the original document
The thesis is present and supported by direct evidence from the source
Moves beyond interpretation to the strengths or weaknesses of the text
Meets the requirements stated for the assignment.
Other criteria previously stated in the course syllabus
Due Dates:
Start reading and working now. We'll be working on these in class between now and the due date, so you might want to bring your computers to class. Certainly bring your books.
You are still required to attend a Writing Center tutor session. They know what we are doing. Just call up the page when you talk to them.
I may work out a way for us to peer review work on each other's essays. Stay tuned.
Final Due Dates:
At 8 am on Tuesday, October 9, I will lock the essay pages. Be sure you've made all revisions before that time.
The Assignment:
Collaborate with other class members to write a critical analysis of one of the following works from the text:
Chapter 9: Who Owns Your Body?Who Owns Your Body Parts? by Kerry Howley (page 290)The Trouble with Organ Trafficking by Arthur Caplan (page 307)The Gendered Language of Gamete "Donation" by Caroline Rubin (page 313)
Chapter 10: Human/Robot InteractionAlone Together: The Robotic Moment by Sherry Turkle (page 322)The Ethical Frontiers of Robotics by Noel Sharkey (page 357)
Chapter 12: The Changing American FamilyWhat is a Family? by Pauline Irit Erera (page 416)Cohabitation Instead of Marriage by James Q. Wilson (page 429)Absent Fathers: Why Don't We Ever Talk About the Unmarried Men? by Rebecca M. Blank (page 439)
Chapter 13: Social Class and InequalityCulture of Success by Brink Lindsey (page 452)The War Against the Poor Instead of Programs to End Poverty by Herbert J. Gans (page 457)A Great Time to Be Alive? by Matt Yglesias (page 464)
You'll be asked to focus your research for semester on the general topic you select for this essay. So, if you decide to perform critical analysis on one of the works from Chapter 12, the rest of your work for the semester will need to address some aspect of The Changing American Family.
Once you have chosen the piece you would like to work on, put your name on the associated page. Only 5 people can work on any one essay. If 5 people have already signed up, you must select a different work. You may not change your selection, so be sure of your choice before you commit.
This assignment is worth 15% of the total class grade; you must submit all major assignments and associated drafts in order to have an opportunity to pass the course. Each "essay" will be graded according to the Criteria for Evaluation below and Assessment Methods already set forth in the course syllabus. Everyone who works on the essay will receive the same grade. Utilize the Discussion Post function at the top of the page to communicate directly with other people in your group, or when it's appropriate, on the page itself. [example: Deb here. I'm having trouble summarizing this section. Would someone like to weigh in?
In addition, each student will assign a participation grade to the other members of the group. I will also assign a participation grade based on the Wiki history. The grade I assign and those assigned by fellow students will be averaged and posted to the process portion of each student's class grade.
(Note: In rare certain circumstances, you may elect to vote a collaborator off the island. The vote must be unanimous. If a member of the group is voted off, he or she must write an individual critical analysis on a source document I select.)
An example of a successful essay from last semester can be found here.
How-to:Remember that critical analysis is argumentative—not informative—in nature. Therefore, your analysis should not simply restate the author's argument. (Some summary of the original text is customary but secondary.) Your analysis should examine the text's assumptions, reasons, evidence, and conclusions. Focus on how well the author accomplishes his or her purpose—not whether or not you agree with what the author has to say.
Study the detailed demonstration of the reading-writing process in Part II of Chapter 3, and model your paper on the example found on page 115. Review Ways to Perform Critical Analysis. The final word count will depend on the text you have chosen to analyze, but should be within the 1500-2000 words range (4-5 pages irl).
You can organize the document in any way that makes sense. In addition, you may insert outside images and links as appropriate, but be sure that they are properly cited. NOTE: Please cite your essay as though you found it in an anthology of reprinted works.
Requirements:
Silver argues that… (not “I thought that” or “You will see that” or “Silver argued that”)
Suggested Resources:
Criteria for Evaluation:
Due Dates:
Start reading and working now. We'll be working on these in class between now and the due date, so you might want to bring your computers to class. Certainly bring your books.
You are still required to attend a Writing Center tutor session. They know what we are doing. Just call up the page when you talk to them.
I may work out a way for us to peer review work on each other's essays. Stay tuned.
Final Due Dates:
At 8 am on Tuesday, October 9, I will lock the essay pages. Be sure you've made all revisions before that time.